The Bottom Line
Through the Wilderness by James Krechnyak, Jr. chronicles the author's painful ordeals of rejection from his peers in childhood, as well as early adulthood, linking them to biblical accounts of wilderness experiences. Anyone who's been the victim of verbal bullying can identify with Krechnyak's struggles to be accepted, as he does an outstanding job of speaking from the heart. His honesty tugs at the reader's emotions. He relates how traumatic experiences can be used for good and how a Christian can actually grow through hurtful encounters with others.Pros
- A balanced teaching on the value of pain and how we grow through our wilderness experiences of painful rejection and loneliness.
- Sound biblical teaching.
- A message delivered from the heart.
- Good use of sub headings.
- Attractive, creative cover.
Cons
- Somewhat confusing, as the author jumps around too much from his own life experiences to biblical accounts.
Description
- Genre: Nonfiction; Christian Life
- Release Date: March 2008
- Author: James Krechnyak, Jr.
- Publisher: Partnership Publications
- ISBN: 9780977861491
- Format: Paperback, 106 Pages
Book Review - Through the Wilderness by James Krechnyak, Jr.
Krechnyak demonstrates how God can turn our weaknesses into our greatest strengths if we just trust in him. As an example, he takes the biblical character Simon Peter and discusses how greatly God used this once fickle, once timid disciple, just shortly after Peter denied the Lord three times.
The book rightly points out that it is our soul, and not our spirit, that needs renewing. This is noteworthy in that many Christians can easily get caught up in feeling unworthy and even unsaved because they continue to be at war against the mind (the soul) and the flesh, after receiving Christ. I appreciated the author making this distinction between spirit and soul because sometimes I feel discouraged when battling my own thoughts and flesh. Such dangerous self-condemning can eventually lead to doubting your faith.
Through the Wilderness offers emotional support for Christians who are overwhelmed with various trials, feeling like they just can't take another challenge. Krechnyak reassures readers that our wilderness journeys don't last forever. As a dear friend once reassured me when going through a trial, "You're just passing through a tunnel and you will see sunshine again, on the other side."
Although I felt the author's heartache in relating his struggles growing up, feeling rejected by peers, it didn't seem much worse than most painful experiences of children, teens, and young adults who undergo similar verbal teasing and bullying. His account of how he suffered pain from his peers is compelling, but he jumps around too much. If these experiences had flowed together chronologically, perhaps it might have smoothed over some of the confusion.
On a positive note, I was impressed with the author's determination to grow beyond the "health and wealth" message often connected with the charismatic movement as he shared how his parents raised him in a Pentecostal church after coming to Christ.
About the Author
Favorite Quote from the Book:
"I was learning that God puts before us only what we can handle at the moment."
